Albany State lineman dies after 15 minutes of practice

ALBANY, GA - Football practice has been postponed indefinitely at Albany State University following the death of a new player who collapsed during running drills at the season&#39;s first practice. <br> <br> Jackie Blanding, a 6-foot-2, 270-pound defensive lineman, was a walk-on who spent the last eight years away from football, serving a hitch in the Army and then moving to Riverdale in suburban Atlanta. <br> <br> Blanding, 26, reported for practice at 6 a.m. Thursday and collapsed less than 15 minutes later. He was rushed to Albany&#39;s Phoebe-Putney Hospital and pronounced dead at 8:20 a.m. <br> <br> ``He&#39;d only been here two days; I didn&#39;t really have a chance to get to know him,&#39;&#39; said Albany State sports information director Edith Bradley. <br> <br> Since classes don&#39;t begin until Tuesday, there were few students on campus, but grief counselors were available for those who needed them, said ASU spokeswoman Cynthia Holk. ASU officials have discussed a memorial service, but had not made firm plans. <br> <br> ``We thought initially it was important to take care of the (Blanding) family&#39;s needs, to take care of our students and coaches and to provide grief counseling to get through this very tragic situation,&#39;&#39; she said. <br> <br> Holk said Blanding&#39;s parents live in Charleston, S.C. <br> <br> Dougherty County Coroner Jane Austin-Taylor said an autopsy was being performed Friday at the state medical examiner&#39;s office in Moultrie to determine why he died. <br> <br> Blanding had previously attended Georgia Military College and had played a season at Virginia Union University in 1995. During his time away from school, he enlisted in the Army. <br> <br> ``It&#39;s just one of those things that happens,&#39;&#39; ASU coach Mike White said. ``It was a real nice morning. It wasn&#39;t hot at all.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> White said the Rams were into their third sprint at the sand dunes near the Albany State campus when Blanding began complaining that his leg muscles were tight. <br> <br> ``Then he just went down collapsed actually,&#39;&#39; White said. <br> <br> Albany State coaches called campus police and emergency medical officials. An ambulance arrived through the early morning rain and took Blanding to the hospital. <br> <br> ``We were just praying that everything was going to work out, but it didn&#39;t,&#39;&#39; said White, who notified Blanding&#39;s mother. <br> <br> Blanding had called White during the offseason, asking for a chance to join Albany State&#39;s team. <br> <br> ``There was no physical tryout,&#39;&#39; White said. ``He was really hungry to get on the field and just appreciated the opportunity to get out there. He looked real good when he came in. He looked strong. He ran good. It&#39;s just tough.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> Thursday morning&#39;s drill consisted of runs through sand dunes to determine the players&#39; fitness. They had reported to camp Tuesday and began practice early Thursday. The sand dunes conditioning test is routine at Albany State, White said. <br> <br> ``We always run the dunes that first day,&#39;&#39; he said. ``It&#39;s just to see where your players are, conditioning-wise.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> He met with the team Thursday evening, after deciding to postpone preseason practice. <br> <br> White said he wants to wait until he gets a better grasp on his team&#39;s mental state before resuming practice. Albany State opens its 2003 season Aug. 30 at Valdosta State University.

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